Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State made the point that not every part of inflation can be offset by the Government and I recognise that. We have made that point over and over again. Not everybody can be insulated from the effects of inflation. However, a government should make sure the most vulnerable in society are protected first and protected the most. I put it to the Minister of State that the Government is washing its hands of the poorest in society and those who have the lowest incomes, particularly those who are dependent on a fixed income. Social welfare recipients saw an increase of approximately 2% in the most recent budget. Inflation is going to run at over 6% for the year and will be higher than that over the coming summer months. The Government is telling those families it is okay that they are going to be poor. Those families are going to be poor this year. The likes of the people in this House who are well paid, and Ministers who are very well paid, will suffer from inflation as well but they have the resources to deal with it. People who depend on social welfare, disability payments and fixed incomes do not have the ability to deal with the high cost of living and the fact that the Government has not brought forward a social welfare package is disgraceful. Will the Government consider dealing with those who are most affected by inflation and have the fewest resources to deal with it by bringing forward a social welfare package that increases core social welfare payments by at least €5?

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